Broos Explains Mayo’s Bafana Omission

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has explained why he didn’t select in-form Cape Town City striker Khanyisa Mayo for his 23-man squad that will face Morocco in the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at FNB Stadium next weekend.

Mayo ended the 2022/23 campaign in red-hot form, scoring eight goals in his last nine games to help City finish in fourth place, while the 24-year-old ended as joint-top scorer in the DStv Premiership with 12 goals.

Broos said he doesn’t really have a particular reason for Mayo’s omission, but insisted he only has 23 spots available, with the Citizens’ striker being one of 11 players dropped from the preliminary squad.

“This is what I have already told you, you have to make decisions and choices and sometimes choices are difficult also for me,” said Broos.

“Should I take Mayo, should I take Monnapule Saleng, should I take another striker? Yes, you take opportunities what can he do or what not. At the end it was Mayo we didn’t choose.

“It had nothing to do that he didn’t show enough in the pre-camp or that, because at the end of the season he was very good, scoring again with his team.

“But yes, you can’t really explain why you choose that player and why you don’t choose that. And again the choices are starting to be very difficult for me sometimes. He deserves to be with us but I can only select 23 players.”

Mayo’s omission comes as Broos agreed to be without centre-forward Lyle Foster after Burnley coach Vincent Kompany phoned the former Cameroon coach and asked for Foster to be excused so he can focus on the club’s pre-season camp, which started on 5 June, after they were promoted to the Premier League.

The former Orlando Pirates striker is South Africa’s top scorer in the AFCON qualifiers with three goals after netting two against Liberia and one in the reverse fixture against Morocco.     

Meanwhile, Broos picked Monnapule Saleng, Themba Zwane, Percy Tau, Thapelo Maseko, Cassius Mailula, Zakhele Lepasa, Mihlali Mayambela and Bongokuhle Hlongwane as his attacking options.